Data transmission method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a data transmission method, apparatus, and system, and an access point. The method includes: transceiving data of a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP on a corresponding allocated frequency resource unit RU, determining one or more fundamental channel units on which the allocated frequency resource unit RU is located, and transceiving at least some fields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the determined one or more fundamental channels. In this way, one or more fundamental channels for transceiving at least some fields in a common signaling portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU are determinate, and another user can transceive data on another idle fundamental channel, thereby improving channel utilization. In addition, multiple users can simultaneously transceive data on multiple fundamental channels, thereby improving a service transmission rate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/913,342, filed on Jun. 26, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/368,300, filed on Mar. 28, 2019, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,716,135, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/819,048, filed on Nov. 21, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No.10,674,533, which is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2015/079496, filed on May 21, 2015. All of the afore-mentionedpatent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of network communicationstechnologies, and in particular, to a data transmission method andapparatus.

BACKGROUND

With development of the mobile Internet and popularization ofintelligent terminals, data traffic increases rapidly. Because ofadvantages of a high rate and low costs, a wireless local area networkbecomes one of mainstream mobile broadband access technologies. In anexisting Wi-Fi system, for example, a conventional system based on IEEE802.11a, a high-throughput system based on IEEE 802.11n, or avery-high-throughput system based on IEEE 802.11ac, uplink datatransmission is always point-to-point transmission, that is, on a samechannel or in a same spectrum, only one station transceives data to anaccess point at a same time. Similarly, downlink data transmission isalso point-to-point transmission, that is, on a same channel or in asame spectrum, an access point transceives data to only one station at asame time.

In a next-generation Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, wireless local areanetwork) system, for example, a HEW (high efficiency WLAN) system,higher requirements are imposed on a service transmission rate of awireless local area system. However, limited by a single channel or asingle frequency band, the existing point-to-point transmission mannercannot meet the high-speed service transmission requirement.

SUMMARY

In view of this, the present invention provides a data transmissionmethod, apparatus, and system, and an access point, different channelresources are allocated to different stations at a same moment, that is,multiple stations can access a channel at a same moment, therebyimproving a service transmission rate.

Solutions of the present invention are as follows:

A first aspect of embodiments of the present invention provides a datatransmission method including: determining a size of a frequencyresource that is needed by a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDUscheduled by an access point AP, and allocating a correspondingfrequency resource unit RU for transceiving the data portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU; determining one or more fundamental channel units onwhich the allocated frequency resource unit RU is located; andtransceiving the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the allocatedfrequency resource unit RU, and transceiving at least some fields in acommon signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the determined oneor more fundamental channels.

In an implementation manner in the first aspect of the embodiments ofthe present invention, the transceiving at least some fields in a commonsignaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the determined multiplefundamental channels includes: repeatedly transceiving, by using thedetermined multiple fundamental channels on a per fundamental-channelbasis, the at least some fields in the common signaling portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU on the multiple fundamental channels.

In a third implementation manner in the first aspect of the embodimentsof the present invention, the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDUincludes uplink user data and/or uplink user MAC control signaling.

In a fourth implementation manner in the first aspect of the embodimentsof the present invention, the at least some fields in the commonsignaling portion that are transceived on the one or more fundamentalchannels include: a legacy preamble and an HE-SIG-A, or a legacypreamble, an HE-SIG-A, and an HE-SIG-B.

In a fifth implementation manner in the first aspect of the embodimentsof the present invention, when the at least some fields in the commonsignaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame include only a legacypreamble, the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame includes onlyACK signaling, or the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frameincludes uplink user data and uplink user ACK signaling, where the ACKsignaling belongs to MAC signaling, and the ACK signaling is located ina frequency resource on a basis of per fundamental channel unit.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides adata transmission apparatus including: an allocation unit, configuredto: determine a size of a frequency resource that is needed by a dataportion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP, andallocate a corresponding frequency resource unit RU for transceiving thedata portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU; a determining unit, configured todetermine one or more fundamental channel units on which the allocatedfrequency resource unit RU is located; and a transmission unit,configured to: transceive the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU onthe allocated frequency resource unit RU, and transceive at least somefields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on thedetermined one or more fundamental channels.

In a second implementation manner in the second aspect of theembodiments of the present invention, the transmission unit includes afirst transmission unit, configured to repeatedly transceive, by usingthe determined multiple fundamental channels on a perfundamental-channel basis, the at least some fields in the commonsignaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the multiple fundamentalchannels.

A third aspect of the embodiment of the present invention provides anaccess point including any data transmission apparatus as describedabove.

A fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides adata transmission system including: a memory having a storage medium,where the memory stores a data transmission program used to transceivedata in the uplink OFDMA PPDU; and a processor that is connected to thememory by using a bus, where when data transmission is performed in theuplink OFDMA PPDU, the processor invokes the data transmission methodprogram stored in the memory, and executes the data transmission programaccording to any data transmission method provided in the first aspect.

It can be learnt from the foregoing technical solutions that, in theembodiments of this application, an OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access, orthogonal frequency division multiple access)technology is introduced based on the IEEE (Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers, Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers) 802.11ax standard. Data of a data portion in an uplink OFDMAPPDU scheduled by an access point AP is transceived on a correspondingallocated frequency resource unit RU, one or more fundamental channelunits on which the allocated frequency resource unit RU is located aredetermined, and at least some fields in a common signaling portion inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU are transceived on the determined one or morefundamental channels. In this way, one or more fundamental channels fortransceiving at least some fields in a common signaling portion in anuplink OFDMA PPDU are determinate. When another user in a conventional802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performs detection according toconventional CCA, the user detects that the one or more fundamentalchannels for transceiving at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are busy, and the user can transceivedata on another idle fundamental channel, thereby improving channelutilization. In addition, multiple users can simultaneously transceivedata on multiple fundamental channels, thereby improving a servicetransmission rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the presentinvention more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanyingdrawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art.Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description showmerely some embodiments of the present invention, and a person ofordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from theseaccompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a data transmission method inthis application;

FIG. 2A is a simple schematic diagram of channel resources used when anuplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent according to Embodiment 1 of thisapplication;

FIG. 2B is a simple schematic diagram of channel resources used whenanother uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent according to Embodiment 1 ofthis application;

FIG. 3A is a simple schematic diagram of channel resources used whenstill another uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent according to Embodiment 1of this application;

FIG. 3B is a simple schematic diagram of channel resources used when yetanother uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent according to Embodiment 1 ofthis application;

FIG. 4 is a simple schematic diagram of channel resources used whenstill yet another uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent according toEmbodiment 1 of this application;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a data transmission method inthis application;

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of Embodiment 3 of a data transmissionapparatus in this application;

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of Embodiment 4 of a data transmissionapparatus in this application; and

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a data transmission system in thisapplication.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To resolve the problem of how to improve a service transmission rate,the inventor finds in the research process that, an OFDMA (orthogonalfrequency division multiple access) technology is introduced based onthe IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Instituteof Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11ax standard. According tothe OFDMA technology, an air interface radio channel time-frequencyresource is divided into multiple RBs (resource block), and the multipleRBs may be shared simultaneously and orthogonal in a frequency domain.After the OFDMA technology is introduced, uplink data transmission ismultipoint-to-point transmission instead of point-to-point transmission.That is, on a same channel or in a same spectrum, multiple stationstransmit data to an access point at a same time. In addition, downlinkdata transmission is point-to-multipoint transmission instead ofpoint-to-point transmission. Based on this, the inventor considers somemultipoint-to-point transmission manners, for example, a first mannerand a second manner.

In the first manner:

A data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU is transceived on a frequencyresource unit RU allocated in advance, and a common signaling portion inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU is duplicated over each fundamental channel in achannel bandwidth. The frequency resource unit RU is smaller than afundamental channel unit. The term “transceived” herein may refer totransmitting, receiving or both; for example, a transceived uplink OFDMAPPDU is a PPDU transmitted by a station and received by an AP.

In the second manner:

Both a data portion and a common signaling portion in an uplink OFDMAPPDU are transceived on a frequency resource unit RU allocated inadvance. The frequency resource unit RU is smaller than a fundamentalchannel unit.

However, after further studying these considered transmission manners,the inventor finds that these transmission manners have variousproblems.

For example, in the first transmission manner, when another user in aconventional 802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performs detectionaccording to conventional CCA, because the common signaling portion inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU is duplicated over each fundamental channel in achannel bandwidth, it is detected that energy on each fundamentalchannel in the channel bandwidth is higher than a specified CCAstandard. That is, it is detected that each fundamental channel is busy.The foregoing transmission manner prevents another user in the BSS fromcontending for an idle fundamental channel for a data portion, and thisis not conducive to improving frequency spectrum utilization. Inaddition, energy of an uplink user data portion concentrates on anallocated RU when the data is sent, while the front common signalingportion is transceived on multiple fundamental channels. As a result,power for receiving the front common signaling portion and power forreceiving the back data portion do not match at a receive end.

In the second transmission manner, when another user in a conventional802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS detects a common signaling portion in aconventional manner, although content of common signaling portions sentby uplink users is the same, a common signaling portion that is finallytransceived to a receive end may be incomplete because each scheduleduplink user performs sending only on an RU that is allocated in advanceand that is smaller than a fundamental channel unit, and a frequencyresource unit RU accommodates a limited size of resources.

Therefore, to resolve the foregoing problems, embodiments of the presentinvention provide a multipoint-to-point transmission manner. In thetransmission manner, data of a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU(physical layer convergence protocol data unit) scheduled by an accesspoint AP is transceived on a corresponding allocated frequency resourceunit RU, one or more fundamental channel units on which the allocatedfrequency resource unit RU is located are determined, and at least somefields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU aretransceived on the determined one or more fundamental channels. In thisway, one or more fundamental channels for transceiving at least somefields in a common signaling portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU aredeterminate. When another user in a conventional 802.11a/b/n/ac and802.11ax BSS performs detection according to conventional CCA, the userdetects that the one or more fundamental channels for transceiving theat least some fields in the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMAPPDU are busy, and the user can transceive data on another idlefundamental channel, thereby improving channel utilization. In addition,multiple users can simultaneously transceive data on multiplefundamental channels, thereby improving a service transmission rate.

In addition, because the at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are transceived on the one or morefundamental channels, and a fundamental channel has a relatively largecapacity, the one or more fundamental channels are capable ofaccommodating the at least some fields in the common signaling portionin the uplink OFDMA PPDU. Therefore, a complete common signaling portionis finally transceived to a receive end through the one or morefundamental channels, and transmission signaling is not lost in atransmission process.

The following clearly describes the technical solutions in theembodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, thedescribed embodiments are merely some but not all of the embodiments ofthe present invention. All other embodiments obtained by a person ofordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the presentinvention without creative efforts shall fall within the protectionscope of the present invention.

A specific process is described in detail in the following embodimentsdisclosed in the present invention.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a data transmission method according toEmbodiment 1 of this application. The method is applied to an uplinkOFDMA PPDU corresponding to a downlink OFDMA PPDU. As shown in FIG. 1,the method may include the following steps.

S101: Determine a size of a frequency resource that is need by a dataportion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP.

S102: Allocate a corresponding frequency resource unit RU.

The data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU includes uplink user dataand/or uplink user MAC control signaling.

S103: Determine one or more fundamental channel units on which theallocated frequency resource unit RU is located.

The fundamental channel unit is preferably a 20 MHz channel. Certainly,the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the present inventionis not limited to a 20 MHz channel, and any eligible channel can be usedas the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the presentinvention.

S104: Transceive the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on theallocated frequency resource unit RU, and transceive at least somefields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on thedetermined one or more fundamental channels.

Fields in the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU includeat least a legacy preamble, and may further include an HE-SIG-A (HighEfficient signal part A) or an HE-SIG-B (High Efficient signal part B).The HE-SIG-A is common resource indication signaling in the uplink OFDMAPPDU, and the HE-SIG-B is resource indication signaling for the user inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU. It can be known according to a physical-layerframe format of the transmission frame that the legacy preamble includesa legacy short training sequence field, a legacy long training sequencefield, and a legacy signaling field. The HE-SIG-A includes a bandwidth,an inter-symbol guard interval, and common signaling for setting alength and modulation coding of an HE-SIG-B, and the like. The HE-SIG-Bis used to indicate information related to resources allocated to thetarget user and the like.

Optionally, the at least some fields in the common signaling portion inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU frame include only a legacy preamble and anHE-SIG-A, or the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frameincludes a legacy preamble, an HE-SIG-A, and an HE-SIG-B.

When the at least some fields in the common signaling portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU frame include only a legacy preamble and an HE-SIG-A,and the allocated frequency resource unit RU is located on only onefundamental channel unit, FIG. 2A is a simple schematic diagram ofchannel resources used when an uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Alternatively, when the at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame include a legacy preamble, anHE-SIG-A, and an HE-SIG-B, and the allocated frequency resource unit RUis located on only one fundamental channel unit, FIG. 2b is a simpleschematic diagram of channel resources used when another uplink OFDMAPPDU frame is sent according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

For transmission of uplink data or uplink MAC control signaling by usingthe uplink OFDMA scheduled by the AP, uplink user data or uplink userMAC control signaling is sent on the allocated RU, and the RU is locatedon a 20 MHz channel. The legacy preamble and the HE-SIG-A; or, thelegacy preamble, the HE-SIG-A, and the HE-SIG-B, in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame in Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention are sent on the 20 MHz channel including the RU, and thecommon signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is not sent onany other channel(s) in the bandwidth.

When the at least some fields in the common signaling portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU frame include only a legacy preamble and an HE-SIG-A,and the allocated frequency resource unit RU is located in multiplefundamental channel units, as shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3A is a simpleschematic diagram of channel resources used when still another uplinkOFDMA PPDU frame is sent according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

Alternatively, when the at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame include a legacy preamble, anHE-SIG-A, and an HE-SIG-B, and the allocated frequency resource unit RUis located in multiple fundamental channel units, as shown in FIG. 3B,FIG. 3B is a simple schematic diagram of channel resources used when yetanother uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

For transmission of uplink data or uplink MAC control signaling by usingthe uplink OFDMA scheduled by the AP, uplink user data or uplink userMAC control signaling is sent on the allocated RU, and the RU is locatedin multiple 20 MHz channels. The legacy preamble and the HE-SIG-A, orthe legacy preamble, the HE-SIG-A, and the HE-SIG-B in the commonsignaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame are sent on themultiple 20 MHz channels where the RU is located, and are duplicatedover each 20 MHz channel. The legacy preamble and the HE-SIG-A are notsent on any other channel(s) in the bandwidth.

Optionally, when the at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame include only a legacy preamble,the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame includes only ACKsignaling, or the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame includesuplink user data and uplink user ACK signaling. The ACK signalingbelongs to MAC signaling, and the ACK signaling is located in afrequency resource on a basis of one or more fundamental channel. Asshown in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a simple schematic diagram of channelresources used when another uplink OFDMA PPDU frame is sent according toEmbodiment 1 of this application.

For a downlink OFDMA PPDU, uplink user ACK signaling uses a same symbollength as a legacy preamble, and there is no HE-SIG-A or HE-STF/LTFbetween the legacy preamble and the ACK. If the frequency resource unitRU is located in only one fundamental channel unit, and an RU isallocated for ACK of each user on a per 20 MHz basis, both the legacypreamble and the ACK signaling in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame are senton the allocated 20 MHz channel. If the frequency resource unit RU islocated in multiple fundamental channel units, the legacy preamble andthe ACK signaling are duplicated over the multiple 20 MHz channels wherethe RU located, and the legacy preamble and the ACK signaling are notsent on any other channel(s) in the bandwidth. For example, for a user#3, if an allocated RU is located in multiple 20 MHz channels, a legacypreamble and ACK signaling are duplicated over the third and fourth 20MHz channels where a corresponding downlink resource located.

In this embodiment of the present invention, a data portion in an uplinkOFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP is transceived on anallocated frequency resource unit RU, and at least some fields in acommon signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are transceived on oneor more fundamental channels where the frequency resource unit RU islocated, for example, the at least some fields are transceived on one ormore determined 20 MHz channels. In this way, because the one or more 20MHz channels for transceiving the common signaling portion in the uplinkOFDMA PPDU are already determinate, when another user in a conventional802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performs detection according toconventional CCA, the one or more 20 MHz channels are excluded, and theuser performs detection on other idle 20 MHz channel(s) for a dataportion. In this transmission manner, the another user in the BSScontends for an idle 20 MHz channel for a data portion, and the anotheruser in the BSS can transceive data on an idle fundamental channel for adata portion, thereby improving channel utilization. In addition,multiple users can simultaneously transceive data on multiplefundamental channels, thereby improving a service transmission rate.

In addition, because the at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are transceived over the one or morefundamental channels, and a fundamental channel has a relatively largecapacity, where the fundamental channel is preferably 20 MHz, the one ormore fundamental channels are capable of accommodating the at least somefields in the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU.Therefore, a complete common signaling portion is finally transceived toa receive end through the one or more fundamental channels, andtransmission signaling is not lost in a transmission process.

According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of thepresent invention, a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU scheduled byan access point AP is transceived on a corresponding allocated frequencyresource unit RU, one or more fundamental channel units where theallocated frequency resource unit RU is located are determined, and atleast some fields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDUare transceived on the determined one or more fundamental channels. Inthis way, one or more fundamental channels for transceiving at leastsome fields in a common signaling portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU aredeterminate. When another user in a conventional 802.11a/b/n/ac and802.11ax BSS performs detection according to conventional CCA, the userdetects that the one or more fundamental channels for transceiving atleast some fields in the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMAPPDU are busy, and the user can transceive data in other idlefundamental channel(s), thereby improving channel utilization. Inaddition, multiple users can simultaneously transceive data on multiplefundamental channels, thereby improving a service transmission rate.

Embodiment 2

Embodiment 2 of the present invention further discloses another datatransmission method. As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes thefollowing steps.

S201: Determine a size of a frequency resource that is needed by a dataportion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP.

S202: Allocate a corresponding frequency resource unit RU.

The data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU includes uplink user dataand/or uplink user MAC control signaling.

S203: Determine multiple fundamental channel units where the allocatedfrequency resource unit RU is located.

The fundamental channel unit is preferably a 20 MHz channel. Certainly,the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the present inventionis not limited to a 20 MHz channel, and any eligible channel can be usedas the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the presentinvention.

S204: Transceive the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on theallocated frequency resource unit RU, and duplicated at least somefields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU over thedetermined multiple fundamental channels on a per fundamental-channelbasis.

According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of thepresent invention, data of a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDUscheduled by an access point AP is transceived on a correspondingallocated frequency resource unit RU, multiple fundamental channel unitswhere the allocated frequency resource unit RU is located aredetermined, and at least some fields in a common signaling portion inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU are transceived over the determined multiplefundamental channels. In this way, multiple fundamental channels fortransceiving at least some fields in a common signaling portion in anuplink OFDMA PPDU are determinate. When another user in a conventional802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performs detection according toconventional CCA, the user detects that the multiple fundamentalchannels for transceiving at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are busy, and the user can transceivedata on other idle fundamental channel(s), thereby improving channelutilization. In addition, multiple users can simultaneously transceivedata on multiple fundamental channels, thereby improving a servicetransmission rate.

Embodiment 3

Embodiment 3 of the present invention describes in detail a datatransmission apparatus. Referring to FIG. 6, the data transmissionapparatus described in this embodiment includes an allocation unit 301,a determining unit 302, and a transmission unit 303.

The allocation unit 301 is configured to: determine a size of afrequency resource needed by a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDUscheduled by an access point AP, and allocate a corresponding frequencyresource unit RU for transceiving the data portion in the uplink OFDMAPPDU.

The data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU includes uplink user dataand/or uplink user MAC control signaling.

The determining unit 302 is configured to determine one or morefundamental channel units on which the allocated frequency resource unitRU is located.

The fundamental channel unit is preferably a 20 MHz channel. Certainly,the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the present inventionis not limited to a 20 MHz channel, and any eligible channel can be usedas the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the presentinvention.

The transmission unit 303 is configured to: transceive the data portionin the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the allocated frequency resource unit RU,and transceive at least some fields in a common signaling portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU on the determined one or more fundamental channels.

Fields in the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU includeat least a legacy preamble, and may further include an HE-SIG-A (HighEfficient signal part A, High Efficient signal part A) or an HE-SIG-B(High Efficient signal part B, High Efficient signal part B). TheHE-SIG-A is common resource indication signaling in the uplink OFDMAPPDU, and the HE-SIG-B is resource indication signaling for the user inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU. It can be known according to a physical-layerframe format of the transmission frame that the legacy preamble includesa legacy short training sequence field, a legacy long training sequencefield, and a legacy signaling field. The HE-SIG-A includes a bandwidth,an inter-symbol guard interval, and common signaling for setting alength and modulation coding of an HE-SIG-B, and the like. The HE-SIG-Bis used to indicate information related to resources allocated to thetarget user and the like.

Optionally, the at least some fields in the common signaling portion inthe uplink OFDMA PPDU frame include only a legacy preamble and anHE-SIG-A, or the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frameincludes a legacy preamble, an HE-SIG-A, and an HE-SIG-B.

For transmission of uplink data or uplink MAC control signalingscheduled by the AP, by using the uplink OFDMA, an uplink user data oruplink user MAC control signaling is sent on the allocated RU, and theRU is located in only one 20 MHz channel. In Embodiment 3 of the presentinvention, the legacy preamble and the HE-SIG-A; or, the legacypreamble, the HE-SIG-A, and the HE-SIG-B, in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame are sent on the 20 MHz channelincluding the RU, and the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMAPPDU frame is not sent on any other channel(s) in the bandwidth.

For transmission of uplink data or uplink MAC control signalingscheduled by the AP, by using the uplink OFDMA, an uplink user data oruplink user MAC control signaling is sent on the allocated RU, and theRU is located in multiple 20 MHz channels. The legacy preamble and theHE-SIG-A; or, the legacy preamble, the HE-SIG-A, and the HE-SIG-B in thecommon signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame are sent on themultiple 20 MHz channels where the RU is located, and are duplicatedover each 20 MHz channel. The legacy preamble and the HE-SIG-A are notsent on any other channel(s) in the bandwidth.

Optionally, when the at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame include only a legacy preamble,the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame includes only ACKsignaling, or the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame includesuplink user data and uplink user ACK signaling. The ACK signalingbelongs to MAC signaling, and the ACK signaling is located in afrequency resource on a basis of per fundamental channel unit.

For a downlink OFDMA PPDU, uplink user ACK signaling uses a same symbollength as a legacy preamble, and there is no HE-SIG-A or HE-STF/LTFbetween the legacy preamble and the ACK. If the frequency resource unitRU is located in only one fundamental channel unit, and an RU isallocated for ACK of each user on a per 20 MHz basis, both the legacypreamble and the ACK signaling in the uplink OFDMA PPDU frame are senton the allocated 20 MHz channel. If the frequency resource unit RU islocated in multiple fundamental channel units, the legacy preamble andthe ACK signaling are duplicated over the multiple 20 MHz channels, andthe legacy preamble and the ACK signaling are not sent on any otherchannel(s) in the bandwidth. For example, for a user #3, if an allocatedRU is located in multiple 20 MHz channels, a legacy preamble and ACKsignaling are duplicated over the third and fourth 20 MHz channels wherea corresponding downlink resource located.

In this embodiment of the present invention, a data portion in an uplinkOFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP is transceived on a frequencyresource unit RU allocated by the allocation unit 301, and at least somefields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU aretransceived on one or more fundamental channels on which the frequencyresource unit RU is located and that are determined by the determiningunit 302, for example, the at least some fields are transceived on oneor more determined 20 MHz channels. In this way, because the one or more20 MHz channels for transceiving the common signaling portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU are already determinate, when another user in aconventional 802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performs detectionaccording to conventional CCA, the one or more 20 MHz channels areexcluded, and the user performs detection on another idle 20 MHz channelfor a data portion. In this transmission manner, the another user in theBSS contends for an idle 20 MHz channel for a data portion, and theanother user in the BSS can transceive data on an idle fundamentalchannel for a data portion, thereby improving channel utilization. Inaddition, multiple users can simultaneously transceive data on multiplefundamental channels, thereby improving a service transmission rate.

In addition, because the at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are transceived by the transmissionunit 303 on the one or more fundamental channels, and a fundamentalchannel has a relatively large capacity of preferably 20 MHz, the one ormore fundamental channels are capable of accommodating the at least somefields in the common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU.Therefore, a complete common signaling portion is finally transceived toa receive end through the one or more fundamental channels, andtransmission signaling is not lost in a transmission process.

According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of thepresent invention, data of a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDUscheduled by an access point AP is transceived on a frequency resourceunit RU allocated by the allocation unit 301, one or more fundamentalchannel units on which the allocated frequency resource unit RU islocated are determined by the determining unit 302, and at least somefields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU aretransceived by the transmission unit 303 on the determined one or morefundamental channels. In this way, one or more fundamental channels fortransceiving at least some fields in a common signaling portion in anuplink OFDMA PPDU are determinate. When another user in a conventional802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performs detection according toconventional CCA, the user detects that the one or more fundamentalchannels for transceiving at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are busy, and the user can transceivedata on another idle fundamental channel, thereby improving channelutilization. In addition, multiple users can simultaneously transceivedata on multiple fundamental channels, thereby improving a servicetransmission rate.

Embodiment 4

Embodiment 4 of the present invention describes in detail another datatransmission apparatus. Referring to FIG. 7, the data transmissionapparatus described in this embodiment includes: an allocation unit 301,a determining unit 302, and a transmission unit 303.

The allocation unit 301 is configured to: determine a size of afrequency resource that is needed by a data portion in an uplink OFDMAPPDU scheduled by an access point AP, and allocate a correspondingfrequency resource unit RU for transceiving the data portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU.

The data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU includes uplink user dataand/or uplink user MAC control signaling.

The determining unit 302 is configured to determine one or morefundamental channel units on which the allocated frequency resource unitRU is located.

The fundamental channel unit is preferably a 20 MHz channel. Certainly,the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the present inventionis not limited to a 20 MHz channel, and any eligible channel can be usedas the fundamental channel unit in this embodiment of the presentinvention.

The transmission unit 303 is configured to: transceive the data portionin the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the allocated frequency resource unit RU,and transceive at least some fields in a common signaling portion in theuplink OFDMA PPDU on the determined one or more fundamental channels.

When the allocated frequency resource unit RU is located in multiplefundamental channels, the transmission unit 303 includes:

a first transmission unit 3031, configured to repeatedly transceive, byusing the determined multiple fundamental channels on a perfundamental-channel basis, the at least some fields in the commonsignaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the multiple fundamentalchannels.

According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of thepresent invention, data of a data portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDUscheduled by an access point AP is transceived on a frequency resourceunit RU allocated by the allocation unit 301, multiple fundamentalchannel units on which the allocated frequency resource unit RU islocated are determined by the determining unit 302, and at least somefields in a common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU aretransceived by the transmission unit 3031 on the determined multiplefundamental channels. In this way, multiple fundamental channels fortransceiving at least some fields in a common signaling portion in anuplink OFDMA PPDU are determinate. When another user in a conventional802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performs detection according toconventional CCA, the user detects that the multiple fundamentalchannels for transceiving at least some fields in the common signalingportion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are busy, and the user can transceivedata on another idle fundamental channel, thereby improving channelutilization. In addition, multiple users can simultaneously transceivedata on multiple fundamental channels, thereby improving a servicetransmission rate.

An embodiment disclosed in the present invention further provides anaccess point, and the access point may include any data transmissionapparatus as described above.

With reference to the data transmission method described in theembodiments disclosed in the present invention, data transmission may beimplemented directly by hardware, a memory executed by a processor, or acombination thereof. Therefore, corresponding to the method andapparatus disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention, thepresent invention further discloses a data transmission system. Aspecific embodiment is given below for detailed description.

As shown in FIG. 8, the data transmission system 1 includes a memory 11and a processor 13 that is connected to the memory 11 by using a bus 12.

The memory 11 has a storage medium, and the storage medium stores a datatransmission program used to transceive data in the uplink OFDMA PPDU.

The memory 11 may include a high-speed RAM memory, and may also includea non-volatile memory, for example, at least one magnetic disk memory.

The processor 13 is connected to the memory 11 by using the bus 12. Whendata is transceived in the uplink OFDMA PPDU, the processor 13 invokesthe data transmission method program that is used for transceiving datain the uplink OFDMA PPDU and that is stored in the memory 11. Thedatabase search program may include program code, and the program codeincludes a series of operation instructions arranged sequentially. Theprocessor 13 may be a central processing unit CPU, or anapplication-specific integrated circuit, or may be one or moreintegrated circuits configured to implement this embodiment of thepresent invention.

The data transmission method program that is stored in the memory andthat is invoked by the processor 13 may specifically include:

determining a size of a frequency resource that is needed by a dataportion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP, andallocating a corresponding frequency resource unit RU for transceivingthe data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU;

determining one or more fundamental channel units on which the allocatedfrequency resource unit RU is located; and

transceiving the data portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the allocatedfrequency resource unit RU, and transceiving at least some fields in acommon signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the determined oneor more fundamental channels.

With reference to the foregoing content, according to the technicalsolution provided in this embodiment of the present invention, an OFDMAtechnology is introduced based on the IEEE 802.11ax standard. Data of adata portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU scheduled by an access point AP istransceived on a corresponding allocated frequency resource unit RU, oneor more fundamental channel units on which the allocated frequencyresource unit RU is located are determined, and at least some fields ina common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are transceived onthe determined one or more fundamental channels. In this way, one ormore fundamental channels for transceiving at least some fields in acommon signaling portion in an uplink OFDMA PPDU are determinate. Whenanother user in a conventional 802.11a/b/n/ac and 802.11ax BSS performsdetection according to conventional CCA, the user detects that the oneor more fundamental channels for transceiving at least some fields inthe common signaling portion in the uplink OFDMA PPDU are busy, and theuser can transceive data on another idle fundamental channel, therebyimproving channel utilization. In addition, multiple users cansimultaneously transceive data on multiple fundamental channels, therebyimproving a service transmission rate.

The embodiments in this specification are all described in a progressivemanner, for same or similar parts in the embodiments, reference may bemade to these embodiments, and each embodiment focuses on a differencefrom other embodiments. The apparatus disclosed in the embodiments isdescribed relatively simply because it corresponds to the methoddisclosed in the embodiments, and for portions related to those of themethod, reference may be made to the description of the method.

A person skilled in the art may further be aware that, in combinationwith the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in thisspecification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented byelectronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronichardware. To clearly describe the interchangeability between thehardware and the software, the foregoing has generally describedcompositions and steps of each example according to functions. Whetherthe functions are performed by hardware or software and hardware dependson particular applications and design constraint conditions of thetechnical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use differentmethods to implement the described functions for each particularapplication, but it should not be considered that the implementationgoes beyond the scope of the present invention.

In combination with the embodiments disclosed in this specification,method or algorithm steps may be implemented by hardware, a softwaremodule executed by a processor, or a combination thereof. The softwaremodule may reside in a random access memory (RAM), a memory, a read-onlymemory (ROM), an electrically programmable ROM, an electrically erasableprogrammable ROM, a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM,or any other form of storage medium known in the art.

The embodiments disclosed above are described to enable a person skilledin the art to implement or use the present invention. Variousmodifications to the embodiments are obvious to the person skilled inthe art, and general principles defined in this specification may beimplemented in other embodiments without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limitedto the embodiments described in this specification but extends to thewidest scope that complies with the principles and novelty disclosed inthis specification.

1. A method for transmitting an uplink Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (OFDMA) physical layer convergence protocol data unit(PPDU) in a bandwidth, wherein the OFDMA PPDU comprises a data portionand a common signaling portion, the method comprises: performing one ofthe following: sending, by an apparatus, the common signaling portion ofthe uplink OFDMA PPDU on only one fundamental channel, wherein anallocated frequency resource unit (RU) for the data portion of theuplink OFDMA PPDU is located within and smaller than the one fundamentalchannel, or sending, by the apparatus, the common signaling portion ofthe uplink OFDMA PPDU on multiple fundamental channels, wherein theallocated RU for the data portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU is locatedacross the multiple fundamental channels and the bandwidth comprises atleast one fundamental channel other than the multiple fundamentalchannels; and sending, by the apparatus, the data portion of the uplinkOFDMA PPDU on the RU.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein thecommon signaling portion includes a legacy preamble and a signal part.3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sending, by theapparatus, the common signaling portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU on themultiple fundamental channels, comprises: reduplicating, by theapparatus, only over the multiple fundamental channels where theallocated RU is located on a per fundamental channel basis, the commonsignaling portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU.
 4. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the data portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU comprises atleast one of the following: uplink user data, or, uplink user mediumaccess control (MAC) control signaling.
 5. The method according to claim1, further comprising: sending a short training field and a longtraining field of the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the allocated RU.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the fundamental channel comprises a20 MHz channel.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the uplinkOFDMAPPDU is based on 802.11ax standard.
 8. A data transmissionapparatus, for transmitting an uplink Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (OFDMA) physical layer convergence protocol data unit(PPDU) in a bandwidth, wherein the OFDMAPPDU comprises a data portionand a common signaling portion, comprising: at least one processor; andone or more memories coupled to the at least one processor and storingprogramming instructions for execution by the at least one processor tocause the apparatus to: perform one of the following: send the commonsignaling portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU on only one fundamentalchannel, wherein an allocated frequency resource unit (RU) for the dataportion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU is located within and smaller than theone fundamental channel, or send the common signaling portion of theuplink OFDMA PPDU on multiple fundamental channels, wherein theallocated RU for the data portion of the uplink OFDMAPPDU is locatedacross the multiple fundamental channels and the bandwidth comprises atleast one fundamental channel other than the multiple fundamentalchannels; and send the data portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the RU.9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the common signalingportion includes a legacy preamble and a signal part.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the programming instructions, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:reduplicate, only over the multiple fundamental channels where theallocated RU is located on a per fundamental channel basis, the commonsignaling portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU.
 11. The apparatus accordingto claim 8, wherein the data portion of the uplink OFDMAPPDU comprisesat least one of the following: uplink user data, or, uplink user mediumaccess control (MAC) control signaling.
 12. The apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the apparatus to: send a short training fieldand a long training field of the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the allocated RU.13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fundamental channelcomprises a 20 MHz channel.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the uplink OFDMA PPDU is based on 802.11ax standard.
 15. Theapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is a station. 16.A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program used fortransmitting an uplink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access(OFDMA) physical layer convergence protocol data unit (PPDU) in abandwidth, wherein the OFDMA PPDU comprises a data portion and a commonsignaling portion, and the program, when executed by at least oneprocessor, causes a computing device to perform following operations:performing one of the following: sending the common signaling portion ofthe uplink OFDMA PPDU on only one fundamental channel, wherein anallocated frequency resource unit (RU) for the data portion of theuplink OFDMA PPDU is located within and smaller than the one fundamentalchannel, or sending the common signaling portion of the uplink OFDMAPPDU on multiple fundamental channels, wherein the allocated RU for thedata portion of the uplink OFDMAPPDU is located across the multiplefundamental channels and the bandwidth comprises at least onefundamental channel other than the multiple fundamental channels; andsending the data portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the RU.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, whereinthe common signaling portion includes a legacy preamble and a signalpart.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim16, wherein the sending the common signaling portion of the uplink OFDMAPPDU on the multiple fundamental channels comprises: reduplicating, onlyover the multiple fundamental channels where the allocated RU is locatedon a per fundamental channel basis, the common signaling portion of theuplink OFDMA PPDU.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable mediumaccording to claim 16, wherein the data portion of the uplink OFDMA PPDUcomprises at least one of the following: uplink user data, or, uplinkuser medium access control (MAC) control signaling.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, whereinthe operations further comprise: sending a short training field and along training field of the uplink OFDMA PPDU on the allocated RU.